Method and machine for making decorative bows

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for making a decorative bow including means for bringing together in converging paths a backing strip and a decorative ribbon. The ribbon is moved more rapidly than the backing strip, and by intermittently connecting the ribbon to the backing strip a plurality of ribbon loops are formed along the backing strip.

Uite Sites Patent 1 miwm Inventor Grant 111. Jordan lnrma, Ohio May 14,1970

Nov. 2, 1971 American Greetings Corporation Cleveland, Ohio App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING DECORATIVE BOWS 9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1. 223/46, 161/9,112/132 Int. Cl. A4111 43/00 Field 01 Scare 223/46; 28/2; 112/130, 132; 161/9, 10

[56] lRelerences Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,253,077 8/1941 Kierner 112/132 3,318,497 5/1967 Nimmo 223/46 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner--Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Meyer, Tilberry and Body ABSTRACT: An apparatus and method for making a decorative bow including means for bringing together in converging paths a backing strip and a decorative ribbon. The ribbon is moved more rapidly than the backing; strip, and by intermittently connecting the ribbon to the backing strip a plurality of ribbon loops are formed along the backing strip.

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SHEET 2 6? ENVENTOR. GRANT H. JORDAN BY Meqajdau i Body ATTORNEYS PATENTEUunv 2 |97l sum 3 BF 3 INVENTOR. GRANT H. JORDAN ATTORNEYS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING DECORATIVE BOWS The present invention relates to decorative bows and more particularly to apparatus and a method for making decorative bows.

The present invention is particularly applicable to the production of tailored bows, and it will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it will be appreciated that other forms of bows can be similarly made.

A great market exists for decorative-packaging materials, such as prefabricated decorative bows. Prefabricated bows allow even those who are not artistically inclined to attractively wrap their own gifts. However, prefabricated decorative bows, if produced by band, would be prohibitively expensive since the process would be time consuming and arduous. Consequently, machines have been developed for performing this task. Such apparatus, include a source of relatively rigid continuous backing strip, a source of ribbon, a reciprocating table over which the backing strip passes, a stapling station for stapling ribbon to the backing strip, a hitch-feeding mechanism for incrementally advancing the backing strip to the stapling station, guides for feeding ribbon from the source to the stapling station, and a cutting station for cutting a completed bow. in operation, ribbon and backing strip are stapled together, and the reciprocating table advances the stapled backing strip and ribbon in a forward direction past the stapling station. The extent to which the strip and ribbon is moved forward is determined by the desired size of the loop and is twice the height of the desired loop. The backing strip is then moved slightly forward by the hitch-feeding mechanism. Thereafter, the reciprocating table pulls the backing strip backward, and the stapling station exerts sufficient drag on the ribbon so that a loop is formed by the backward motion. A staple is applied to the base of the loop, and the backing strip is advanced by the hitch-feeding mechanism to place the apparatus in condition to sequentially repeat these operations. When a predetermined number of loops is formed, a cutting mechanism is actuated to sever the predetermined number of loops to thereby form a complete tailored bow. It will be noted that before the loop is formed by the backward motion of the reciprocating table and the entire length of that portion of the ribbon which will form the loop is in contact with and overlays the backing strip.

Although the foregoing apparatus and method have had reasonable success, the product derived therefrom, as well as the method and apparatus, is objectionable for numerous reasons. For example, staples are unsightly. Furthermore, the use of staples in the production of bows involves additional expense, both capital and operational. Jamming of the stapler in production can be a constant source of shutdowns, lowering production and further increasing costs. Also, the complex movement of the various machine components requires complicated elements that are somewhat difficult to maintain. The production rate of this machine is reduced by the number of distinct motions necessary to produce a single loop.

The above-described apparatus also involves a number of closely timed operations, and apparatus for performing the same. For example, a reciprocating table and a hitch-advancing mechanism are required. These elements in their operations must be closely controlled in order to provide a smooth running, looping operation and an acceptable product. The reciprocal movement necessary to make the loops can be performed at only a limited velocity which limits, in turn, the production rate. Also, the components must be somewhat massive to withstand such operation. This increases the inertia of the components which can cause undue wear and more frequent maintenance. If it is desired to employ a ribbon of substantially difi'erent thickness and/or to change the size of the loop, these elements must be finally adjusted to provide an acceptable product.

The present invention contemplates new and improved apparatus and methods which overcome all of the abovedescribed problems and others and provides bow-making apparatus of simplified construction which is easily operated and which is economical, both in construction and in operation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided improved bow-making apparatus including means for affixing a ribbon to backing strip at spaced intervals, said affixing means defining a looping station; means for feeding backing strip to said looping station; and separate means for continuously feeding ribbon to said looping station at a greater average speed whereby ribbon continuously fed to said looping station between said spaced intervals forms a loop with a series of said loops forming a bow.

in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a machine for producing bows, which bows include a plurality of upstanding loops formed from a ribbon and attached to a selected surface of a continuous backing strip at incrementally spaced areas. The machine comprises intermittently operated securing means for securing a portion of the ribbon onto the selected surface at a selected position. The machine also includes means for advancing the backing strip to the selected position and means for actuating the securing means for securing the ribbon to one of the spaced areas of the backing strip. Also included in the machine are means advancing the ribbon toward the position to provide an excess of the ribbon and to form a loop from the excess of the ribbon and means for then advancing the backing strip to the next adjacent spaced area. Means can also be provided for again actuating the securing means for again securing the ribbon rearward of the loop onto the backing strip at the next area. The machine is also provided with means for sequentially repeating the operation to form a series of loops.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a decorative bow including a backing strip and a ribbon formed into a series of spaced loops secured to the strip. This method comprises the steps of moving the strip along a first path, moving the ribbon along a second path converging with the first path at a selected position, intermittently joining the ribbon onto the strip at selected spaced areas at the aforementioned position, and causing the ribbon to move along the first path at a higher speed than the strip is moving along the second path whereby the ribbon is looped between the spaced areas.

Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for making ornamental bows which bows are formed in a series of ribbon loops. The method comprises establishing a loop-forming station, periodically feeding a backing strip having an exposed adhesive surface to said looping station, continuously supplying ribbon to said looping station, pressing said ribbon to said looping station, pressing said ribbon to the adhesive surface of said backing strip immediately prior to said periodic feeding of backing strip, and sequentially repeating the steps for forming a series of loops.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of simplified construction for making decorative bows.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for making decorative bows having loops wherein the loops are adhered to a backing strip.

An even further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for making loops of ribbon on an adhesive coated backing strip, which apparatus provides improved pressing to secure better adhesion of ribbon to the backing strip.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved punch which insures better pressing of ribbon to the backing strip.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of looping apparatus which includes improved guides for feeding ribbon to a looping station.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved method for making decorative bows.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing schematically a bow-making machine constructed in accordance with the present invention:

FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are enlarged cross-sectional views taken generally along lines la-la, lb-lb, lc-llc, and Idld respectively of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view showing the looping station;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view showing the cutting station;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the cutting station;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a bow made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. I; and,

FIGS. 7a-7e are schematic views illustrating the operating sequence of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus A for forming a tailored bow shown in FIG. 5 and including strip-feeding mechanism 10, ribbonfeeding mechanism 12, looping station 14, and cutoff device 16.

A variety of structures could be used to feed a backing strip into the mechanism; however, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the strip-feeding mechanism 10 includes pinch rolls 20, 22 and pinch rolls 24, 26 which coact with guides 30, 32 to define a first path along which the backing strip progresses through the apparatus A. Rolls 20, 24 are pivoted so that they apply a controlled pressure upon the backing strip. The rolls are rotated by ratchet wheel 34 which is indexed intermittently by a ratchet 36. The speed at which the ratchet is actuated to move the wheel one increment determines the average speed of the backing strip through the apparatus. The backing strip includes a pressuresensitive lower layer 42 over which there is provided a removable protective strip 44. In the feeding mechanism the backing strip is provided with a pressure sensitive tape 50 having an upper removable strip 52 to allow coiling prior to being fed into the feeding mechanism. As the strips 40, 50, shown in FIGS. la, 111, respectively, are brought together they are adhered to form a composite multilayer strip schematically illustrated in FIG. 10. After this composite strip is formed, the protective strip 52 is removed around roll 24 by using rolls 60, 62. Thereafter, the backing strip is identified as strip B, as shown in FIG. 1d. This strip includes as its upper layer the pressuresensitive adhesive tape 50. This strip is then moved along the path defined by guide 32 to the looping station 14.

A decorative ribbon 70 is also fed to the looping station. The feeding mechanism 12 includes guide rolls 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82 for guiding the decorative ribbon around an undu- Iating path. Roll 76 is a dancer roll spring biased within frame 84. Pressure roll 86 allows roll 82 to drive the ribbon at a average speed greater than the average speed of strip B. This feature causes looping of the ribbon, in a manner to be described later. After passing over the roll 82, the ribbon 70 is guided along a path converging with the path of strip B through a guide chute 90 having a first portion 92 extending generally toward the strip B, a second portion 94 generally parallel to the strip B. This causes the ribbon 70 to converge with the strip B at the looping station.

Referring now to the looping station, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this station 14 includes a frame 100 in which there is reciprocally mounted a blade 102 having a lowermost edge 104. Cylinder 106 reciprocates the blade in timed relationship with the indexing of the ratchet 36 in a manner to be described. Guide plates 110, 112 on opposite sides of the blade 102 assure reciprocal movement of the blade in a path generally perpendicular to the paths of the ribbon 70 and strip B. As shown in FIG. 4, the strip B is guided under lower edge 104 by side guides 120, 122 having inwardly extending fingers 124, 126 respectively. In this manner, the strip B is maintained in the proper position as it passes through the looping station 14. Below the blade 102 there is provided a resilient pad 130 formed, preferably, from silicon rubber. This pad allows the edge we to force ribbon 70 against the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer or tape 56 to form loops M0 at spaced areas 142 which may be spaced in a longitudinal direction a variety of adjusted distances, represented as a in FIG. 5. This distance may be changed by varying the timing of the blade 102 and the indexed distance of the feed rolls between the down stroke of blade 102.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is schematically illustrated the internal structure of the guide chute 94) which guides the ribbon 70 into the looping station. This chute includes a passage, or slot, 160 which controls the path of movement of the ribbon 70. Various arrangements could be used for forming the slot; however, in this illustration two structural elements 162, 164 are employed. As shown in FIG. 7a, the forwardmost end of element 162 is curved upwardly for guiding the ribbon during the looping operation.

Turning now to the operating sequence of apparatus A, reference is made to FIGS. Ta-7e. In FIG. 7a, the backing strip B is stopped and ribbon 70 continues to move forward. Blade 102 is forced downwardly to connect ribbon 70 onto the upper adhesive surface of strip B at position 142. This forms a loop 140. During this securing operation, ribbon 70 continues to move forward forming a partial loop against the rear surface of blade I02 as shown in FIG. 7b. Thereafter, blade 102 is raised and backing strip B is advanced a distance a to assume the position shown in FIG. 70. It is noted that the ribbon 70 gathered behind the blade 102 moves forwardly to contact the previously formed loop M0. The strip B is again stopped and the ribbon 70 continues to move forward to form a subsequent loop 140. This is shown in FIG. 7d. While the strip B is stopped, blade 102 again moves downwardly to secure the ribbon 70 onto strip B. This forms another loop 140, as shown in FIG. 7e. This process is continued until the desired number of loops are formed. At that time, the strip B and ribbon 70 move together to form an end tail at the end of the loop. This can be done by stopping the reciprocal movement of blade I02 with or without continuous movement of the strip B.

Referring now to the cutoff device 16, it includes a pivoted arm having a blade 152 which coacts with a cutting edge 154 in access 156 to cut the ribbon and strip into a unit, as shown in FIG. 5.

It is appreciated that the strip B could possibly be moved continuously at a slower rate than the ribbon 70. The height of the loops M0 is determined by the speed of ribbon 70 with respect to the average speed of strip B.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A machine for making a decorative bow including a plurality of upstanding loops of ribbon on a continuous backing strip, said machine comprising: means for moving a backing strip with a pressure-sensitive layer thereon along a first path at a first average speed; means for moving a decorative ribbon at a second average speed along a second path on the side of said strip having said layer and generally converging with said first path at a selected area; means for intermittently forcing longitudinally spaced portions of said ribbon against said layer of said strip to secure said portions onto said strip in spacedapart relationship; and, said first average speed being less than said second average speed whereby loops of said ribbon are formed between said spaced portions.

2. A machine as defined in claim I wherein said strip-mow ing means includes means for intermittently moving said strip.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said forcing means includes an anvil on the side of said first path opposite to said layer and a ram on the same side of said first path as said second path and means for intermittently driving said ram toward said anvil whereby said ribbon and strip are pressed together.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said anvil is formed from a resilient pad.

5. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said pad is formed from silicon rubber.

6. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said ram is a blade having an elongated end extending transversely of said ribbon and strip.

United States Patent i 11 i 1 1 I Peter C. Collura Stemtord, Conn.;

Philip W. Lewis, Greensboro, NC. 49,128

June 23, 1970 Nov. 2, 197 1 Container Corporation of America Chicago, 111.

Inventors Appl. N 0. Filed Patented Assignee SUPPORT CARD FOR DISPOSABLE UNDERGARMENTS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 223/71, 206/7, 206/46, 229/7! Int. Cl A4lh 5/00, A47f8/(l0 Field 0! Search 223/66, 71, 72, 75, 77; 229/71, 75; 206/7 C, 46 AP, 78, 65, 79, 80; 35/56 [56] lkeierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,879 7/1937 Andrews 229/71 3,043,423 7/1962 Sheuker 223/71 X 3,057,462 10/1962 Rouder 223/71 X Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Arsisran! Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin A1mrneyCarpentcr, Ostis & Lindberg ABSTRACT: A support card for one or more disposable female undergarments known in the trade as panties." The card is loaded with the garments while held in stiffened position in a jig which curves the card transversely of spaced laterally extending score lines. The card is folded upon itself after being loaded with a plurality of such garments, and the card is shaped in such a fashion that log openings of the garment are retained at protuberances from the edges ofthe card. 

1. A machine for making a decorative bow including a plurality of upstanding loops of ribbon on a continuous backing strip, said machine comprising: means for moving a backing strip with a pressure-sensitive layer thereon along a first path at a first average speed; means for moving a decorative ribbon at a second average speed along a second path on the side of said strip having said layer and generally converging with said first path at a selected area; means for intermittently forcing longitudinally spaced portions of said ribbon against said layer of said strip to secure said portions onto said strip in spacedapart relationship; and, said first average speed being less than said second average speed whereby loops of said ribbon are formed between said spaced portions.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said strip-moving means includes means for intermittently moving said strip.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said forcing means includes an anvil on the side of said first path opposite to said layer and a ram on the same side of said first path as said second path and means for intermittently driving said ram toward said anvil whereby said ribbon and strip are pressed together.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said anvil is formed from a resilient pad.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said pad is formed from silicon rubber.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said ram is a blade having an elongated end extending transversely of said ribbon and strip.
 7. A method for making ornamental bows which comprises: establishing a looping station, said looping station including a reciprocating punch; intermittently feeding a continuous backing strip having an adhesive surface to said looping station; continuously feeding ribbon to said looping station and toward said adhesive surface so that excess ribbon provided by continuous feeding forms a loop; actuating said punch when the loop has reached the desired height to secure the base of the loop to said adhesive surface, repeating the steps to form a preset number of loops and then cutting said preset number of loops to provide an ornamental bow.
 8. A bow-making machine for producing bows including a plurality of upstanding loops formed from a ribbon and attached to a selected surface of a continuous backing strip at incrementally spaced areas, said machine comprising: an intermittently operated securing means for securing a portion of said ribbon onto said selected surface at a selected position; means including two unidirectional drive rolls for advancing said backing strip to said position; means for actuating said securing means for securing said ribbon to one of said spaced areas of said backing strip; means including two unidirectional drive rolls for advancing said ribbon toward said position and longitudinally of said backing strip to provide an excess of said ribbon and to form a loop of said excess of said ribbon; means for then advancing in unison said backing strip to the next adjacent of said spaced areas and said loop beyond said next adjacent of said spaced areas; and means for again actuating said securing means for again securing said ribbon rearward of said loop onto said backing strip at said next adjacent of said spaced areas; and means for repeating said operations to provide a series of said loops of ribbon on said backing strip.
 9. A machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said securing means includes an anvil on the side of said backing strip opposite from said selected surface and a member movable intermittently toward and away from said anvil on the side of said selected surface, and said surface being coated with a pressUre-sensitive adhesive. 